A love letter to the sleuths behind the scenes

Some people think stories are written alone.

A person at a desk. A cup of coffee gone cold. A single name on a book cover.

But that has never been true for us.

This is a love letter to the sleuths behind the scenes who work beside me - often quietly, often late, often without applause - so that a dream larger than any one of us can exist in the world.

This is for you.

You are the ones who answer messages when the rest of the world is asleep.

The ones who solve problems before they become emergencies.

The ones who bring your brilliance, your patience, your creativity, and your heart - not because it's easy, but because it matters.

You are not just collaborators. You are guardians of something fragile and powerful: belief.

Belief that young people deserve stories that respect their intelligence. Belief that curiosity is a strength. Belief that truth, courage, and kindness still belong at the center of the world we're building.

Every puzzle we create, every page we refine, every outreach email sent, every late-night brainstorm - those are not tasks. They are acts of devotion.

You give your skills freely and fiercely:

• strategy and structure

• creativity and care

• organization and imagination

• logic, empathy, and relentless hope

And you do it with one shared purpose: to help young people feel seen, capable, and brave enough to trust their own minds.

That is no small thing.

What we are building together isn't just a book series.

It's not just songs, puzzles, programs, or platforms.

It's a place where a young reader realizes, "I'm not lost. I'm learning."

It's a moment when a teen feels smart instead of small.

It's a quiet shift when someone decides they are worth listening to, especially when they listen to themselves.

That happens because of you.

Because you show up with integrity.

Because you care about the work and the people it serves.

Because you understand that helping young people is not charity - it's an investment in the future of truth.

To the world reading this: Know that nothing meaningful is built alone.

Behind every story that sparks courage, there is a team choosing heart over shortcuts. Purpose over ease.

I am endlessly grateful to walk this path with you, my fellow sleuths, my co-conspirators in curiosity, my protectors of wonder.

You make it possible for me to live my dream. But more importantly, you help make it possible for young people to discover theirs.

And that is the greatest mystery we will ever solve together.

With love, gratitude, and unwavering belief, Cathy www.SisterhoodSleuths.net

(c) Cathy Warshaw, 2026